The Other George F. Winslow (Not the One on the USS Marblehead)-- Part 1

As I said before, when I was writing about the action of the USS Marblehead in the Stono River in South Carolina at the Battle of Legareville on Christmas Day 1863, I came across the name of a Union officer named George F. Winslow, who received recognition for his actions that day from his commanding officer, Richard Worsam Meade III.

I decided to find out if I could find out any more about this man.  Especially since that last name, Winslow, is well known in Civil War narratives because of an officer named John Winslow, who commanded the USS Kearsarge in its famous fight with the CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France.  Could this Winslow be related?

(Well, then also there was that Richard Worsam Meade III, with that famous last name.  I wonder?)

Let's find out.

The first thing I found was that there were two Union Naval officers named George F. Winslow.  That kind of complicated things.  

However, one was also a surgeon who had a long career in the service.  This one, however, was never listed as being on the USS Marblehead.

Famous Last Names All Over the Place.  --Old B-Runner

The Battle of Legareville-- Part 5: Aftermath

Union casualties were  3 killed and 4 wounded, compared to Confederate 3 killed and 8 wounded.  

After the battle, Col. Powhatan R. Page blamed poor artillery  for the inconclusive  battle.  Delaware Kemper defended his men by the fact that  the range did not allow  their fire to accurately disable the USS Marblehead.

In his report, General P.G.T. Beauregard took both accounts in and reported that the failure to destroy or drive away the Marblehead was  "due to the inefficiency of the artillery through bad ammunition, fuzes, and primers, and bad service of the guns.  The eight-inch howitzers, objected to by Lieutenant-Colonel Kemper, were intended to kill the enemy."

Unknown to the Confederates, however, their artillerists did fire with some degree of accuracy.  The Marblehead sustained some thirty hits.  Lt. Cmdr. Richard Meade wrote, "We have one 30-pounder shell that was lodged in steerage and did not explode...."  Steerage here meaning apparatus that allows for the steering of a ship, a rather important component of a ship's operation.  In addition, he noted two other unexploded shells lodged elsewhere in his ship.

Overall, he reported extensive, but largely superficial damage to his ship.

Eventually, Farley, Miller, Blake and Moore (who was not in Meade's recommendations) received Medals of Honor.

More Than  You Ever Thought You'd Know About This Little Battle.  --Old B-Runner

Battle of Legareville-- Part 3: A Surprise Attack

At around 6 am on Christmas Day, Confederate batteries opened fire on the USS Marblehead, but their fire was ineffective.  Upon the first shots, Union Lieutenant  Commander Richard Meade bolted from his quarters wearing just his night clothes and ordered his men to return fire. With steam up in just one of his ship's boilers, the Marblehead lifted its anchor and maneuvered downstream, all the while returning fire.

Despite the Confederate accuracy and casualties among gun crews, Boatswain's Mate  William Farley, captain of the XI inch pivot gun, got off the Union response.  Meade's servant, escaped slave Robert Blake brought his commander's uniform and even helped man one of the guns after a crew member was shot down.

One crew member, Charles Moore was wounded and bleeding profusely, but refused to leave his post and continued at his gun.  Quartermaster  James Miler then stepped up to the foredeck and cast the lead to find the depth and enabled the ship to escape the Confederate trap.

Acting ensign George Winslow also helped to rally the crew to their guns.

--Old B-R'er

The Battle of Legareville-- Part 2: The Union Navy at the Battle

The USS Marblehead was under the command of  Lieutenant Commander Richard Worsam Meade, the nephew of Major General George Gordon Meade of Gettysburg fame.

The Marblehead mounted an 11-inch Dahlgren gun, two 24-pound smoothbore guns and one 20-pounder rifle.  Further down the Stono River, which ran along Johns Island past Legareville and into the Atlantic Ocean, two other gunboats were posted at the inlet.

They were the USS Pawnee, commanded by George Balch and had the firepower of  eight IX-inch Dahlgren guns, one 100-pounder Parrott rifle, one 50-pounder  Dahlgren rifle and two 12-pounder boat howitzers.  The other ship was the USS C.P. Williams, a mortar schooner that mounted a couple   8-inch mortars under the command of Acting Master F.N. Freeman.

--Old B-Runner

USS Marblehead-- Part 1: Robert Blake's Ship Was a 'Ninety-Day Gunboat'

I have been writing about Medal of Honor recipient Robert Blake, a former slave, contraband and then Union Navy seaman.  He was on the USS Marblehead when his deeds warranted the honor.  His captain was Lt. Cmdr. Richard Worsam Meade III at that time.

From Wikipedia.

The USS Marblehead was a  Unadilla-class  gunboat built for the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.  The Unadilla-class are often called "Ninety-Day Gunboats" for the speed with which they were built.  There were 23 of them built and they participated in most coastal operations during the war, capturing at least 146 blockade runners.  An effective cost outlay for the Union.

Stats:

691 tons

158 feet long, 28-foot beam

9.6 feet draft

screw steamship with sails

10 knot speed

114 crew

Armament:

One 11-inch Dahlgren smoothbore

 two 24-pdr. smoothbore

two  20-pdr. Parrott rifle

--Old B-Runner

Honor Accorded to Robert Blake Who Received Medal of Honor-- Part 2

Robert Blake was awarded the medal of Honor four months later.  Probably at the recommendation of the Marblehead's commander, Richard Worsam Meade.

The South Carolina DMV is dedicating six field offices over the next two weeks to honor South Carolinian Medal of Honor winners like Blake.  Doing so enables people of the state to learn about relatively unknown heroes.

In 2019, another DMV office in the state was named after Kyle Carpenter who, while in Afghanistan, took the full blast of a hand grenade  to save a fellow Marine.  He survived.  The DMV office in Batesburg-Leesville was named ofr him.

Unfortunately, after a quick search I was unable to find the names of other DMVs named after Medal of Honor winner.  But, this is a fantastic thing South Carolina is doing to honor and recognize its own heroes.  

--Old B-Runner

Robert Blake, Black Medal of Honor Recipient-- Part 3: "There Is No Hiding Space Here"

Blake then went to the ship's gun deck and was immediately knocked down by an exploding Confederate shell.  The explosion had killed a nearby powder-boy bringing powder and ammunition to a gun.  Blake, being a steward to his commander had not been assigned combat duty and could have retreated to the relative safety of the below decks area.

Instead, he stripped to the waist and began running powder boxes to the gun loaders.

When Lt. Cmdr. Meade asked him what he was doing, he replied:  "Went down to the rocks to hide my face, but the rocks said there is no hiding space here.  So here I am, Sir."

The Confederates eventually abandoned their position, leaving a gun behind.

Blake was awarded  the Medal of Honor four months later.

Quite an Accomplishment for a Former Slave.  --Old Secesh

Robert Blake, Black Medal of Honor Recipient-- Part 2: A Surprise on the Stono

Robert Blake was born into slavery  in Virginia.  He somehow ended up South Carolina.  In June 1862, his owner's plantation was burned during  a Union expedition  up the Santee River.  About 400 slaves from his plantation were taken aboard a Union ship as contraband.  They were sent to North Island in Winyah Bay, S.C..

While on North Island Blake answered the call for twenty single men to serve on the USS Vermont, an old U.S. ship of the line serving as a receiving ship at Port Royal, South Carolina.

By December 1863, he had been transferred to the USS Marblehead and was serving as a steward to Lt.Cmdr.  Richard Worsam Meade.  Early in the morning of December 25, while the Marblehead was cruising in the Stono River, the ship came under fire of a Confederate howitzer at Legareville on Johns Island.

Meade jumped from his bed and ran onto the quarterdeck to give the order to return fire, Blake followed him, handed him his uniform, and urged him to change out of his night clothes.

--Old B-Runner

Robert Blake, Black Medal of Honor Recipient-- Part 1

From the September 29, 2020, The Penn "End of the month brought historical events, landmarks to the U.S." by Heather Bair.

1864

Black soldier given Medal of Honor for first time.

Robert Blake served as a Union sailor during the Civil War and was the first Black to receive the Medal of Honor.  However, he was not the first black person to perform an action that would get him a Medal of Honor.  That honor belongs to William Harvey Carney, but he did not receive the medal until 1900.

During the Civil War, Robert Blake served aboard the USS Marblehead, where he served as a steward to Lieutenant Commander Richard Worsam Meade.

On Christmas Day 1863, a Confederate cannon opened fire on the Marblehead.  Not being a combatant, Blake could have retreated to aa place of more safety, but didn't.  He went onto the deck, where he was knocked off his feet by an exploding shell.  A powder boy had been killed by the explosion and Blake started doing his duties.

After receiving his Medal of Honor, Blake was promoted to seaman and enlisted for another tour of duty.

--Old B-Runner

The Meade Family in the Civil War

Richard Worsam Meade II was in the USN and the brother of Union General George Meade

Richard Worsam Meade III was in the USN

Henry Meigs Meade was in the USN

Robert Leamy Meade was USMC

That's Sure a Lot of Participation.  --Old B-Runner

Richard Worsam Meade III, USN

From Wikipedia.

Bon October 9, 1837, died in Washington DC, May 4, 1897, a month after his brother, Lt.Cmdr Henry Meigs Meade, USN. They are buried next to each other.

Graduated from US Naval Academy Annapolis in 1856 and served on the USS Merrimack, Cumberland and sloop of war Dale.

In 1862, he was executive officer on the steam sloop Dacotah. Later, he participated in the suppression of the New York Draft Riots of July 1863.

Commanded the USS Louisville on the Mississippi River in 1862, the USS Marblehead in South Carolina waters 1863-64 and the USS Chocura in the Gulf of Mexico from 1864-1865.

He married Rebecca Paulding, daughter of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding.

Continued serving after the war and became prominent reformist and technological-minded officer, eventually rising to the rank of rear admiral.

Two ships have been named after him and his brother, Brig. General Robert Leamy Meade, USMC.

This is one fighting family.

Like Father, Like Son. --Old B-Runner